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' A. A. LETHERN.

SLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I7- 19!?- Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

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' zl/emffw fi/fow TIETTE STATES PATENT QFFT E.

ALBERT ALEXANDER LETHERN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO MILLS WOVEN CARTRIDGE BELT COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SLING.

Specification of Letters .Eatent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application filed February 17, 1917. Serial No. 149,266.

Slings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. i

This invention relates to slings for rifles and the like and has for its object to effect certain improvements which will facilitate the manipulation of the sling when it is desired to vary its length and also enable the rifle to be carried in a more convenient manner. i y

As usually constructed a rifle sling comprises a strip of leather or woven fabric which is attached to the rifle by passing it through the'swivels thereon and the strip is provided with some form of sliding or other connection between one or each-end of the sling and the main portion thereof so "that the length of the sling can be varied to meet requirements. Such devices as have been used for connecting the sling ends to the main part have been of the nature ofslides,

buckles or the like or double hooks adapted to engage the edges of the strip forming the sling. In either case, however, these arrangements lackedthe simplicity and advantages which are to be found in the present improve'ment. V

The accompanylng drawings illustrate the improved rifle sling and the various ways in which it can be adjusted for use.

In the drawings',

. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a rifle with the sling attached and shortened as it would be when the rifle is to be carried in the hand.

Fig. 2' shows'in perspective the sling when lengthened so as to permit of the rifle'being slung over the shoulder and connected to the equipment.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing an arrangement with which the sling may be provided in order to fasten one end thereof when -'lengthened for slinging the rifle and when the wearer has no means of attaching the sling to an equipment.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout 7 the drawings.

The sling is formed of a strip of woven fabric, leather, or other suitable materiai,

having attached to one end A a metal piece B in which is formed a key-hole slot. The metal piece is provided with a flat eye B through which the end A of the sling is passed and secured by sewing, riveting or otherwise. On the other end A of the sling is mounted a stud G adapted to engage the other side, this nut not being shown in the drawings. The stud C may however be attached in other ways. On the sling are three sliding loops D, E and F. These loops are convenientlyformed of the same material as the slingitself, the latter being preferably constructed of wovenfabric.

When mounted on a rifle the sling A. is threaded through the rifle swivels G and H the sling having been also passed through the sliding loops D, E and F. The end A of the sling 'is now doubled back on itself and again passed through the loop D. The end A is also doubled back on itself and passed through the twoloops E and F. If now the sling is to be shortened up to its greatest extent for carrying the rifle the ends A andA of the sling are pulled until it is possible to connect the two ends of the sling by engaging the key-hole slotted piece B with the stud C. The loop D is now pushed along the doubled stri of material up against the rifle swivel Similarly the loop E is pushed along until it is close up against the rifle swivel H. When in these positions the loops D and E prevent the parts of the strip A from slipping or moving one with relation to the other. The third loop, F which need not necessarily be provided, .is now moved until it covers the stud C, where it serves to keep the metal parts securely connected together. The sling 7 now appears as shown in Fig. 1.

If it is desired to lengthen the sling the two ends are disengaged, when it is possible to slide the two parts of one or each end of the sling through its swivel and thus in crease thelength. The sling can then be fixed and prevented from extending farther by pushing one of the sliding loops up against each swivel so that the two parts of the sling are frictionally held there within the loop. Or the sling may be adjusted as follows: The member B is disconnected from the stud C and the mam part of the The main partA ofthe sling is now pulled to some extent through the uqeperrifle swivel G seas to somewhat-shorten the end across. the chest of the wearer.

venience of the wearer.

A which is left; hanging free. The length of the sling A between the swivels H and G. is now sufiicient to enable the rifle to be slungv over the shoulder the sling, passing If as is customary, the sling passes over the left shoulder the end A hangs down on the left hand side of the front of the wearer and it is possible to engage the key-hole slotted piece B; with a stud mounted on a suitable:

part. of the equipment. Conveniently this stud is arranged on the upper part of a cartridge carrier mounted on or forming the front portion of the belt of the equipment. Or the stud may be provided upon .the adjacent brace or shoulder strap which supports the belt. In this way the weight of the rifle canbe largely-balanced by the weight of the cartridge carrier in the front and little or no pressure is then exerted on the chest of the. wearer by the main portion Aof the sling which can hang loosely across the chest.- The length of the pendant portion A is obviously adjustable in accordancewith the position of the stud which engages the member B and to suit the con Should it be desirable to shorten the sling so as to take up the slack portionacross the chest this can be effected by pulling on the end of the.

sling which passes through the swivel G on the rifle stock. When the necessary amount has been taken u the slidin loo l b 1 P is. pressed home against the swivel so as to fixthe sling. I p

In Fig. 3 is shown a device which may be employed if when slinging the rifle it is not desirable or possible to use the member B for attaching to a part of the equipment.

For instance, it may be required to sling the rifle when the man has not the full equipment on him. This device comprises a. slide J through which the main part A of the sling is threaded. This slide J carries a stud J adapted to engage the keyhole slotted member B. .By suitably positioning the slide J in the length of the strip A the endA' ofthe latter can be firmly secured by engaging he metal piece B with the stud J. The end A is thus prevented from hangingloose and moreover this end of the sling which mainly takes the weight of the'rifle, is securely held so as to prevent it from slipping through the swivel G. The loop D when pushed up against the swivel G exerts a certainamount of grip'on the double part of the sling but when the metal piece B is engaged with the stud J of the slideJ there is nov risk of thesling gradually lengthening itself by slipping through the swivel G in consequence of the weight thereon and the movements of the wearer.

As mentioned thekey-hole slotted memher 13 may be replaced by a'hook of suitable shape. adapted to engage an eye which is thus substituted for the stud C. In that case a corresponding eyeis provided on the main equipment and if the slide J is used this carries an eye in place of. the stud J.

It is desirable in mostinstances andparticularly where the sling is used with an equipment to adjust the attachment to the lower swivel H, which in the case of a rifle is that mounted on the stock, so that the end of the sling strip which carries'the stud. C is pulled down to its extreme limit as determined by the sliding loop or loops through which it passes and as shown in Figs. 2'

and 3.

ion

As mentioned the sling 'may be constructed of any suitable material but preferably it is formed of woven fabric the sliding-loops also being constructed of the samematerial. A l

I claim asmy invention 2- 1. A sling for a rifle or the like, comprise ing a strip of flexible material-adapted to be passed through the upper and lower swivels of said rifle, or the like, the said strip having its opposite ends provided with ing a strip of flexible material adapted to be passed through the; upper andflower swivels of said rifle, or thelike, and to have both end-portions thereof doubled back prevent slipping through upon the intermediate portion of the strip,

the said strip. having one'end thereof pro-' vided with a slotted connection-piece and the other end provided with a stud to enter the slot of said connectiompiece, to fasten the sling in shortened condition, loops slidahly embracing the respective end-portions of the strip and adapted to bind them adj aeent the swivels so as to prevent the strip from slipping through the swivels, and another 100p slidably embracing the lower doubled end-portion of said strip, adapted to he slipped up to retain the stud and connee- 10 tion-pie'ee in interengagement.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in the presence of tWo witnesses.

ALBERT ALEXANDER LETHERN.

Witnesses:

W. J. FRANKs', R. HEISLER. 

